Bloomberg Fallout? Begich NYC Fundraiser Canceled

A New York City fundraiser next week for Sen. Mark Begich was canceled after Mayor Michael Bloomberg told potential donors not to give to senators who voted against the background-check gun bill.

According to the New York Daily News, the Alaska Democrat "shrugged off" the cancelation, chalking it up to a scheduling conflict rather than pressure from Bloomberg. Begich said he would come back to raise money in the Big Apple.

Begich is one of four Democrats on the list of senators Bloomberg hopes to help defeat in 2014 for voting with most Republicans against background checks for all commercial gun sales.

In addition to running ads against the lawmakers, Bloomberg's group, Mayors Against Gun Violence, is encouraging potential contributors not to support senators and House members who oppose new gun-control laws.

The Begich fundraiser had been scheduled for Monday at the offices of the Peter J. Solomon Co. Solomon, who runs the investment banking firm, and former Citigroup chairman Robert Rubin were to host the event.

According to Politico, Solomon also said the fundraiser was canceled because of scheduling problems, adding in an email that it had "no connection" to Bloomberg's campaign against the four senators.